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Young children were mesmerized by the Sandsation belly dancers' performance on the Market Mall stage at the 16th annual Knoxville Opera's annual international Rossini Festival street fair Saturday, April 22, 2017. J. Miles Cary/Special to the News Sentinel

Melanie Clemmons from Kingston, TN records performers at the 16th annual Knoxville Opera's annual international Rossini Festival street fair Saturday, April 22.
(J. Miles Cary/Special to the News Sentinel) J. Miles Cary special to the News Sentinel

Bill Stevens, left and Tyson Newell demonstrate their sword fighting skills to area residents who filled downtown streets Knoxville for the 16th annual Knoxville Opera's annual international Rossini Festival street fair Saturday, April 22.
(J. Miles Cary/Special to the News Sentinel) J. Miles Cary special to the News Sentinel

Cathy Daniels a cast member of the Opera "Mary Queen of Scots" preforms at the 16th annual Knoxville Opera's annual international Rossini Festival street fair Saturday, April 22.
(J. Miles Cary/Special to the News Sentinel) J. Miles Cary special to the News Sentinel

The Sandsation belly dancers perform on the Market Mall stage at the 16th annual Knoxville Opera's annual international Rossini Festival street fair Saturday, April 22, 2017. J. Miles Cary special to the News Sentinel

Calleigh (cq) Ringle, 10, from west Knoxville bounces in the Fun Zone at the 16th annual Knoxville Opera's annual international Rossini Festival street fair Saturday, April 22.
(J. Miles Cary/Special to the News Sentinel) J. Miles Cary special to the News Sentinel

Mary Doyle from Halls checks the schedule for the 16th annual Knoxville Opera's annual international Rossini Festival street fair Saturday, April 22.
(J. Miles Cary/Special to the News Sentinel) J. Miles Cary special to the News Sentinel

The event is now in its 17th year and has attracted more than 500,000 people from Knox County and surrounding areas in its first 16 years, according to the event's website.

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Jordan Harper, 5, rests on his father, Jeremy Harper's, head during the Rossini Festival on Gay Street in Knoxville on April 24, 2015. The event spread across 14 city blocks providing food and entertainment for people of all ages.(Photo: Jessica Tezak, JESSICA TEZAK/NEWS SENTINEL)

New pick-up/drop-off locations

To help with the crowds and possible parking issues, the Rossini Festival, along with Garza Law and WATE 6 On Your Side Traffic, will offer a new drop-off/pick-up option for increased access to the festival.

The event will have four locations, all around one block away from the festival, where attendees can be dropped off and picked up. They will be marked with signs.

Attendees and drivers from taxis, Uber and Lyft can drop off or pick up people at these locations throughout the festival, according to the event's website.

These locations include the parking lot on Commerce Avenue, the area on Summit Hill Drive across from the Crowne Plaza Knoxville, the area on State Street at Church Avenue, and the area on Church Avenue at Market Street.

Parking won't be available at these locations during the event.

Steven Jones of Knoxville (center) rolls his bike through the crowd during the Rossini Festival on Gay Street in Knoxville on April 24, 2015. The event spread across 14 city blocks, providing food and entertainment for people of all ages.(Photo: Jessica Tezak)

Entertainment all day

The Rossini Festival will go on for 11 hours on Saturday, and musicians and dancers will perform all day.

The event will feature five stages, which will have different types of entertainment and music including jazz, ethnic music, gospel, modern and ethnic dance, ballet, vocal and instrumental ensembles, according to the event's website.

The opera stage will be in the Krutch Park Extension; the choral stage will be at Gay Street and Wall Avenue; the YMCA dance stage will be in Market Square; the south instrumental stage will be in the Bijou parking lot; and the west instrumental stage will be at Clinch Avenue and Market Street.

Emily Beshay of Greenville, S.C. (center) looks at all the food spread out at a vendor's booth during the Rossini Festival in downtown Knoxville on April 24, 2015.(Photo: JESSICA TEZAK/NEWS SENTINEL)

More than music

In addition to the festival's day-long music and dance performances, the event will offer a variety of food vendors, a YMCA fun zone with activities for kids and families, and more than 100 artisans selling their wares.

The vendors will sell products including jewelry, arts and crafts, soap, hats, clothing, pottery and other items, according to the event's map.